Method and apparatus for preparing imaged light

Abstract

An imaging device and method for projecting imaged light according to print data onto an imaging medium includes a light source, an optics system receiving light from the light source, and at least one modulator having a plurality of individually addressable reflective elements. The optics system images or focuses the light source onto the at least one modulator and the at least one modulator selectively modulates a portion of the light onto the imaging medium according to the print data. The optic system includes a condenser lens positioned between the light source and the at least one modulator and an imaging lens be positioned between the at least one modulator and the imaging medium. A numerical aperture of the condenser lens is set to be equal to a numerical aperture of the imaging lens to critically illuminate the modulator. The light source may include a plurality of light emitting elements. Light beams from the plurality of light emitting elements are overlapped on the reflective elements at the full width half max point of the light beams to uniformly illuminate the reflective elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An imaging device for projecting imaged light, modulated in response to print data, onto an imaging medium, the imaging device comprising: a light source;   a condenser lens receiving light from the light source;   at least one modulator having a plurality of individually addressable reflective elements, wherein the condenser lens images the light source onto the at least one modulator and the at least one modulator selectively redirects a portion of the light; and   an imaging lens positioned to receive the portion of the light, the imaging lens focusing the portion of light onto the imaging medium, wherein a numerical aperture of the condenser lens is equal to a numerical aperture of the imaging lens so that the modulator is critically illuminated.   
     
     
       2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging lens is positioned between the at least one modulator and the imaging medium. 
     
     
       3. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises at least one laser diode. 
     
     
       4. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a gradient neutral density filter disposed between the condenser lens and the at least one modulator so that the imaging medium is uniformly illuminated by the light. 
     
     
       5. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a gradient neutral density filter positioned between the at least one modulator and the imaging medium. 
     
     
       6. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising a gradient neutral density filter disposed between the condenser lens and the at least one modulator and between the at least one modulator and the imaging medium. 
     
     
       7. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitting elements. 
     
     
       8. The imaging device according to claim 7, condenser lens images the plurality of light emitting elements onto the plurality of individually addressable reflective elements so that light from each of the plurality of light emitting elements is overlapped to uniformly illuminate the reflective elements. 
     
     
       9. The imaging device according to claim 7, wherein the condenser lens images the plurality of light emitting elements onto the plurality of reflective elements so that light beams from the plurality of light emitting elements are overlapped on the plurality of reflective elements at a full width half max point of the light beams. 
     
     
       10. An optics system controlling light directed from a light source to an imaging medium, the optics system comprising: a condenser lens positioned to receive light from the light source;   at least one modulator having a plurality of individually addressable reflective elements, wherein the condenser lens images the light source onto the at least one modulator and the at least one modulator selectively redirects portions of the light in a first direction according to the print data; and   an imaging lens positioned to receive the redirected portions of the light, the imaging lens focusing the received portions of the light onto the imaging medium, wherein a numerical aperture of the condenser lens is equal to a numerical aperture of the imaging lens so that the modulator is critically illuminated.   
     
     
       11. The optics system of claim 10, wherein the light source comprises at least one laser diode. 
     
     
       12. The optics system of claim 10, further comprising a gradient neutral density filter positioned between the condenser lens and the modulator so that the imaging medium is uniformly illuminated by the light. 
     
     
       13. The optics system of claim 10, further comprising a gradient neutral density filter positioned between the modulator and the imaging medium. 
     
     
       14. The optics system of claim 10, further comprising a gradient neutral density filter positioned between the condenser lens and the at least one modulator and between the at least one modulator and the imaging medium. 
     
     
       15. The optics system of claim 10, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light emitting elements. 
     
     
       16. The optics system of claim 15, wherein the condenser lens images the plurality of light emitting elements onto the plurality of individually addressable reflective elements so that light from each of the plurality of light emitting elements is overlapped to uniformly illuminate the reflective elements. 
     
     
       17. The optics system of claim 15, wherein the condenser lens images the plurality of light emitting elements onto the plurality of reflective elements so that light beams from the plurality of light emitting elements are overlapped at a full width half max point of the light beams. 
     
     
       18. A method of projecting imaged light onto an imaging medium according to print data, the method comprising the steps of: generating light with a light source;   imaging the light source through a condenser lens onto at least one modulator, the at least one modulator having a plurality of individually addressable reflective elements;   selectively modulating light from the light source according to the print data to direct a modulated portion of the light through an imaging lens onto the imaging medium; and   critically illuminating the at least one modulator by setting a numerical aperture of the condenser lens equal to a numerical aperture of the imaging lens.   
     
     
       19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of imaging the light source through a condenser lens onto at least one modulator includes uniformly illuminating the at least one modulator by passing the light through a gradient neutral density filter located between the condenser lens and the at least one modulator. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim 18, further including the step of uniformly imaging the modulated portion of the light onto an aperture of the imaging lens with a gradient neutral density filter positioned between the condenser lens and the imaging lens. 
     
     
       21. The method of claim 18, wherein the light source includes a plurality of light emitting elements. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of imaging the plurality of light emitting elements onto at least one modulator includes imaging beams generated by the plurality of light emitting elements onto the plurality of reflective elements. 
     
     
       23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of overlapping the beams on the plurality of reflective elements to uniformly illuminate the plurality of reflective elements. 
     
     
       24. The method of claim 23, wherein the plurality of beams are overlapped on the plurality of reflective element at a full width half max point of each of the plurality of beams.